How Do I Know If I Am Having Real Contractions?
I am 38 weeks pregnant, 3 cm dilated, and inbetween 80% – 90% effaced as so my doctor said I could go into labor any time. After an cervical exam Monday I had bloody show on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile I have had discharge, sometimes clear and sometimes a mucus like color, following with major period like cramping that is uncomfortable in my lower abdomen vaginal area. I don’t believe I am in labor but not sure what is really happening, my doctor doesn’t say much. I am confused on what real contractions are and false ones because I only feel the vaginal cramping and some lower back pain along with tightening of my uterus. Could someone please help me out here? 
-this is my first-
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Those all sound like very good signs! There is no such thing as "false" labor, every little squeeze you feel is a warm up for the main event! Just look… it already got you to 3cm dilated, woohoo!
The way to determine whether you are in progressing labor is a combination of how the contractions feel and how they behave. Progressing contractions:
- Come in a regular pattern, for example about every 10 minutes. They don’t need to be "to the second" but they should be very consistant, such as: 10min, 11min, 10min, 9min, etc
- Are progressively longer. They should be at least 30 seconds long each and getting longer.
- Stay the same or get stronger with activity. So, if you go for a walk and they get more intense that is a good sign. If you watch a movie and they slow down, that means you probably still in the "warm up" stage.
- Get progressively stronger. The pain/pressure should get more intense as you go along. At some point you will not be able to walk or talk during a contraction and that is a VERY good sign!
- The pain of progressing contractions usually starts high in your abdomen and radiates down and around to your lower back. Non-progressing contractions are usually concentrated in your lower back or groin.
Repeat after me… I want contractions that are LONGER, STRONGER and CLOSER TOGETHER!!
get to the hospital, you could be in labor, pain is not normal if you are not in labor..
well with my son i was 36 weeks and i felt horrible and in alot of pain down around that aera if i was you i would call the dr too be on the safe side . a dr would know more then anyone
from what you are saying i think you need to contact your doctor ,if your pains are regular and occurring about 5to 6 min you need to call especially with the bloody show back pain is another sure sign of labor ,good luck to you and your little one
If they are consistantly 3-5 minutes apart and last at least 7 seconds for an hour I would go straight to the delivery room.
Sounds like the real thing to me. Lower back pain, cramping, tightening of the uterus and dilated and effaced. I’d call the doctor immediately and if I couldn’t get ahold of him, I’d be on the way to the hospital. Good luck!
If they stay regular and eventually come closer in time, yuou are in labor. If you are really unsure, go to the hospital. You will not look stupid. I went in the hospital with my second son and thought I was in labor…I wasn’t. You have all the signs of early labor. Just relax, with most people, labor will take a while. E-mail me if you need some more answers. I feel as though I knoiw pregnancy and giving birth like the back of my hand.
ilovemycfnissan@yahoo.com
there is no such thing as a fake contraction.all contractions are real it’s just that what they call "fake contractions"is your body getting ready for labor
I would go to the doctor just to be sure
Go straight to the emergency room. Congratulations!!! Do you know what you’re having?
You are probably in labor. But contractions can start,and come and go if you are stressed or dehydrated. Any Dr. will tell you its better to be safe then sorry. Go see them. You might have a baby today or you might just get some fluids. Good luck. Remember ALL IS WELL
When you start feeling the contractions, constant tightening that get more painful as you get closer to pushing the baby out, every 3-5 minutes and they last 1 minute or more you definately need to go because you will be in labor. You will feel the contractions on your abdomen. good luck.
oh trust me, the contractions will get stronger and stronger. You will definitley know.
If the contraction are getting stronger and are about 5 minutes apart co to the hospital. Not necessary you can have contractions. You can start bleeding and having discharge. I have 3 kids and 3 of the them were different. For the first one I just broke my water. No contraction or bleeding or discharge. For my second one I was only bleeding. No pain or contractions and for the third one I had contractions. When I arrived to the hospital I was 3 cm dilated and they send me to walk checking on me every half our. So every birth and symptoms are different. You will know when you are ready because you will feel it. Don’t be afraid. In my opinion this is the most important moment in women life. Good luck!!!
well you will feeol pain sharp pain. cut that 5 min bullshit! ifyou feel sharp pain cramps that hurt a little bad and its goign on cntinuously then there you go thats real!! It comes back n go away comes back and goes away.. Sharp, painful where you have to breathe a little hard, cramps like tightening..
The bloody show is normal as long as it lasts for nomore than 2 days. The cramping and tightening of the uterus could still be false labor. The docs told me that I would know when the real labor hit, and they were right. You can not mistaken the real thing. Discharge is also normal, it gets to be more and more the closer you get. I was 4cm. and 90% for about a week. If you are truely concerned, call your doc. Good luck!! It’s the best experience ever, and worth all the pain. You truely do forget about labor once the baby is born.